North East Mississippi Electric Power Association and NE SPARC have partnered to continue a grant program for local school teachers that facilitates innovative classroom-based education projects

The goal of Bright Ideas, now in its third year, is to encourage, support and celebrate creative educational experiences for the students and staff in our service area.

During the past two grant cycles, teachers from the Lafayette School District, Oxford School District and Pontotoc School District, and West Union Attendance Center won grants for their classrooms.

Local educators can apply for Bright Ideas grants of up to $500 for innovative, hands-on classroom projects. The grants are available to K-12 teachers in public schools who have at least one student who is a member of North East Power or NE SPARC subscriber.

Projects can be in any subject, and educators can apply individually or as a team.

To apply, teachers must include a budget; explain the implementation, goals, creative elements and evaluation of the project; and have approval from their school’s principal. Applications will be blind judged through a competitive evaluation process, with judges looking for projects that feature inventive and creative approaches to learning.

Applications are live online at www.NEMEPA.org/brightideas. The deadline to submit applications is Sept. 2. Teachers who submit their application by the early bird deadline of Aug. 16, will be entered to win prizes that would benefit their classroom.